“The people are what makes my job most enjoyable. Our clients and their consultant teams, many of whom I have worked again and again with over many years, are leading the way in delivering the UK’s most important infrastructure projects.”

Scott has significant experience in high-value contentious and non-contentious planning, environmental, and compulsory purchase matters across the UK.

He is co-head of our offshore wind sub-sector, and has led advice on some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, in particular within the energy sector. Scott’s specific experience includes consenting, planning appeals (including inquiries), DCO examinations, planning agreements, environmental impact assessment, habitats regulation assessment and derogations, judicial review, pollution incidents and enforcement.

Areas of practice include:

Sector experience includes:

Admitted

2006: Scotland
2012: England and Wales

Relevant experience

Advising the developers of West of Orkney offshore windfarm on all consenting matters for the 2GW project. West of Orkney are the first ScotWind project to be granted offshore Section 36 Electricity Act consent and marine licences.
Advising the developers of Outer Dowsing offshore windfarm on consenting including Development Consent Order application and examination for the 1.5GW project.
Advised Moray West offshore wind farm on all onshore and offshore consents and compulsory purchase order for the Moray West offshore wind farm.
Advised Neart na Gaoithe (Mainstream and now EDF) on onshore and offshore consenting and on the compulsory acquisition of land rights necessary for the grid connection and on the consenting aspects of the sale to EDF.
Advised the developer (SMartWind and then Ørsted) of the 1.2GW Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm including advising on the application and examination of the Development Consent Order, providing advocacy and advising on discharge of requirements and consenting matters during construction.
Advised the developer (SMartWind and then Ørsted) of the 1.3GW Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm including advising on the application and examination of the Development Consent Order, providing advocacy, advising on discharge of requirements and consenting matters during construction and advising on the consenting aspects of the regulated sale of the transmission assets to an OFTO.
Advised ESB on its investment into Inch Cape.
Advised Masdar on the consenting aspects of their equity investment into the Hywind offshore floating wind and battery project.
Advised NorthConnect on the consenting aspects of its Scotland to Norway interconnector project.
Advised several developers on the planning and environmental aspects of the purchase and sale of onshore renewable projects and portfolios including onshore wind, BESS and solar.
Advised Fred Olsen on Section 36 Electricity Act appeal and inquiry for Fetteresso onshore wind farm.
Advised on the consenting aspects of the purchase and development of Wells Fargo’s new European Headquarters in the City of London.

“It is a pleasure to work with Scott McCallum. He is approachable and always able to offer robust solution-focused advice in relation to complex consenting matters.”

Chambers (2024)

Further testimonials

“Scott McCallum and his team have a depth of experience and knowledge. Accessible to the client and always providing excellent advice in relation to consenting strategy. Excellent attention to detail, highly organised and efficient.”

Legal 500 (2024)